Linda Marie Johnston was carried into Heaven in the arms of her Savior on April 2, 2014. She was born in Sioux Falls, SD on July 1, 1957 to Merle F. and Lena M. (Williams) Woodden and she died at the age of 56 years, 9 months, 1 day in Grand Prairie, TX after suffering courageously for over a year with Mesothelioma Cancer.

Linda first enrolled in the Elementary School in Burke, SD, then attended schools in Sioux Falls, SD, and Gregory, SD. She graduated in 1975 from Gregory High School, Gregory, SD. In 1978 she was among the graduates from the University of Sioux Falls with a degree in Elementary Education, and from Multnomah School of the Bible in 1986 with a post-graduate degree in Biblical

Studies. In 1990 she received a Master of Arts degree in Inter-Cultural Ministries from Western Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary in Portland, OR. She married Neil A. Johnston on July 20, 1985.

Linda accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and dedicated herself to Christian work, first as a teacher of missionary children in Indonesia, then as a Bible translator in Alor, Indonesia. She also taught schools in Gregory, SD prior to missionary service. Linda was a member of the Matthew Road Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, TX where she served as a Director for the TNT Awana girls group. Her most beloved activity was that of mother and home-school teacher of her children.

As a beloved daughter, granddaughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, Linda gave of herself to everyone with whom she had a relationship.

Linda leaves behind to mourn her passing her husband, Neil Johnston, her son Nathan and her daughter Lauren all of Grand Prairie, TX, her mother and step-father, Lena and Wesley Nelson of Kingsville, MO, brother Kenn Woodden of St. George, UT, sister Amy Searcy of Lee's Summit, MO, 4 sisters-in-law- Sally Woodden of Red Lodge, MT, Sheila Woodden of St. George, UT, Nancy Johnston of Bakersfield, CA, and Noreen McKinney of Anacortes, WA, father-in-law Robert Johnston of Bakersfield, CA, 6 nieces, 7 nephews, aunts, cousins, and numerous friends around the world.

Persons preceding Linda to Heaven include her father, the Rev. Merle F. Woodden, brother Stephen Merle Woodden, nephew Jonathan Roy Woodden, uncle Erwin Williams, uncle Jack Wilson, mother-in-law Hazel Johnston, and grandparents Roy and Clara Woodden and Lewis and Louise Williams.

Funeral services will be held in the Matthew Road Baptist Church of Grand Prairie, TX and in the Union Baptist Church of Burke, SD. Linda will be buried next to her father in the Graceland Cemetery of Burke, SD.

Memorials may be given to the Water Filter System Project in Alor, Indonesia or to the College Education Fund of her children, Nathan and Lauren, both c/o the Summit Bank of Kansas City, Amy Searcy, 1650 NE Grand Ave., Suite 100, Lee's Summit, MO 64086-9797.